Agriculture: Research

The Earl of Selborne: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How much research funding has been provided by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and its agencies to Rothamsted Research (and its predecessor body), and to the Institute of Grassland and Environmental Research in each financial year since 1999–2000; and what are the comparable figures planned for 2006–07 and 2007–08.

Lord Bach: Defra research expenditure and commitments at Rothamsted Research and the Institute of Grassland and Economic Research (IGER) for the years in question are as follows:
	
		£'000
		
			  Rothamsted IGER 
			 1999–2000 6,191 6,437 
			 2000–01 6,349 6,275 
			 2001–02 5,922 6,040 
			 2002–03 5,555 6,339 
			 2003–04 5,283 6,537 
			 2004–05 5,109 6,996 
			 2005–06* 4,199 6,361 
			 2006–07** 2,445 5,210 
			 2007–08** 1,692 2,243 
		
	
	* Provisional
	** Figures for these years are incomplete. Data given represent committed and planned expenditure at this time, but many contracts are still under negotiation or are yet to be formally commissioned.

Agriculture: Research

The Earl of Selborne: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What areas of specific expertise have been, and are likely to be, lost at Rothamsted Research (and its predecessor body) and the Institute of Grassland and Environmental Research since 2003–04 as a consequence of funding decisions taken by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and its agencies; and what measures the department has taken to ensure continuity of access to the high-quality scientific expertise required to deliver the strategy set out in Delivering the Essential of Life.

Lord Bach: Rothamsted Research (RRes), its predecessor body (the Institute of Arable Crops Research) and the Institute of Grassland and Environmental Research (IGER) are research institutes of the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC). The areas of expertise within these institutes is, therefore, a matter for BBSRC, RRes and IGER.
	Defra's needs for scientific evidence and, therefore, the expertise required within the scientific community to service these needs, are changing. This has been documented in our Science Forward Look 1 and our recent consultation document on our Evidence and Innovation Strategy 2 . We look to the UK science and engineering base as a whole, including public sector research institutes, the higher education institutions and the private sector, to provide the expertise required to support the delivery of our strategic priorities.
	1 Evidence and innovation: Defra's needs from the sciences over the next 10 years, July 2004: www.defra.gov.uk/science/publications/documents/ScienceForwardLook3rd.pdf.
	2 Evidence and Innovation Strategy 2005–2008—consultation document issued October 2005: www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/consult/ei-strategy/eis-consultdoc.pdf.

Agriculture: Research

The Earl of Selborne: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What the cost to the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council has been, and is likely to be, of redundancies in Rothamsted Research (and its predecessor body) and the Institute of Grassland and Environmental Research consequential on funding decisions taken by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and its agencies since 2003–04.

Lord Bach: Rothamsted Research, its predecessor body (the Institute of Arable Crops Research) and the Institute of Grassland and Environmental Research are research institutes of the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC). Therefore, redundancy costs at these institutes are a matter for the BBSRC.

Armed Forces: Pay Review Body

Lord Garden: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What effect the 20 Royal Navy, 25 Army and 40 RAF operational pinch points identified by the Armed Forces' Pay Review Body in paragraphs 2.42 to 2.48 of its report of February 2006 (Cm 6740) will have on planned operations over the next 12 months.

Lord Drayson: The operational pinch points that have been identified will not have a significant impact on planned operations over the next 12 months.

Armed Forces: Pay Review Body

Lord Garden: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What assessment they have made of the Armed Forces' Pay Review Body report of February 2006 (Cm 6740, paragraph 2.68), which states that "manning is fragile"; and what new measures will be introduced to reverse the trends in recruiting and retention.

Lord Drayson: The Government welcome the assessment of the manning situation made in the Armed Forces' Pay Review Body report. The Armed Forces are broadly in manning balance in spite of some significant shortfall areas. Restructuring and subsequent requirement reductions will help to resolve many of these structural imbalances and close the deficit by April 2008. There will, however, continue to be shortfalls in some branches and trades beyond this date.
	Both recruitment and retention remain generally satisfactory despite a challenging environment. A number of measures, which are covered in the report, continue to address problem areas. In addition, a two-month recruiting bounty scheme has been put in place for Royal Artillery and Infantry to assist in this problem recruitment area.

Armed Forces: Pay Review Body

Lord Garden: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What will be the extra costs to the defence budget of full implementation of the Armed Forces' Pay Review Body 2006 proposals; and how this will be provided.

Lord Drayson: The total net additional cost of the full pay increase, taking account of increased charges, will be some £208 million in 2006–07. The additional cost of the award will be met from within the existing departmental expenditure limits.

Armed Forces: Post-traumatic Stress Disorder

Baroness Greenfield: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What procedures and training exist to help prevent post-traumatic stress disorder in servicemen and women likely to experience combat or other violent or disturbing incidents.

Lord Drayson: The Ministry of Defence has put measures in place to increase awareness at all levels and to mitigate against the development of post-traumatic stress disorder and other stress-related disorders among service personnel. Personnel receive briefings before they are deployed to prepare them for dealing with potentially stressful operational situations. While personnel are in theatre, we provide appropriate levels of support from trained mental health staff, either based in the UK or in theatre. On their return from theatre, personnel receive a post-deployment briefing, which includes leaflets and a presentation covering stress reactions. The families of returning personnel are also offered a presentation and issued with leaflets to alert them to the possible after-effects of operational deployment.
	On the relatively rare occasions when personnel develop a mental health problem as a result of their deployment, community-based mental health care is available to every military unit and every service person via our 15 departments of community mental health across the UK and satellite centres in Cyprus, Germany and Gibraltar.

Aviation: Bilateral Air Travel Arrangements

Lord Smith of Leigh: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What have been the reasons for the approval and refusal of applications for bilateral air travel arrangements over the past two years.

Lord Davies of Oldham: Applications by non-EU airlines for permits to operate scheduled or charter flights to the UK are scrutinised to ensure that all the detailed criteria have been met. These criteria include valid certificates of airworthiness, air operators' certificates and insurance details. A small percentage of applications have been rejected over the past two years. The reasons commonly relate to inadequate documentation or to issues relating to safety or security.

Aviation: Security

Lord Berkeley: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How much of the cost of security at airports and for airlines is funded by the organisations themselves; and how much is provided by government.

Lord Davies of Oldham: It is for the industry to meet the costs of aviation security.

Civil Service: Secular Societies

Lord Stoddart of Swindon: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether there are humanist or other secular societies among the staff networks in the Civil Service.

Lord Bassam of Brighton: Staff networks are generally created, run and supported by staff themselves, focused on common interest areas or specific diversity issues. At a cross-service level, no humanist or secular societies have been created. Departments have delegated responsibilities for staff issues, including staff networks, and the Cabinet Office does not hold detailed information on individual departments' staff networks.

Civil Service: Staff Networks

Lord Stoddart of Swindon: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many staff networks there are in the Civil Service; and what they are named.

Lord Bassam of Brighton: There are currently eight corporate Civil Service-wide staff networks:
	A:Gender, for transgender, transsexual and inter-sex staff;
	Civil Service Carers' Network;
	Civil Service Disability Network (CSDN);
	Civil Service Islamic Society (CSIS);
	Civil Service Race Equality Network (CSREN);
	Civil Service Rainbow Alliance (CSRA) for lesbian, gay, and bisexual staff;
	Minority Ethnic Talent Association (META), a newly created network for staff who have participated on the corporate leadership development programme for minority ethnic staff;
	Pathways; and
	Whitehall Christian Fellowship
	Most departments similarly have diversity staff networks on strand-specific issues, but the Cabinet Office does not hold details of departmental staff networks centrally.

Education: Interactive Whiteboards

Baroness Greenfield: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What assessment they have made of the impact on pupil motivation, attainment and learning of the introduction of interactive whiteboards into classrooms.

Lord Adonis: We are currently assessing the educational impact and operational effectiveness of interactive whiteboards (IWBs) in both primary and secondary schools. The assessment will consider the extent to which the use of IWBs impacts on standards at key stage 3 and GCSE in the core subjects. It will also measure the impact on standards in literacy and numeracy in primary schools. These evaluations started in 2004 and will end in 2006.
	To date, earlier pilot projects by Newcastle University, research by Becta, and reports by Ofsted into the use of IWBs have told us that their introduction has had a positive impact in classrooms and the response from teachers and pupils has been extremely positive. IWBs have improved the quality of teaching, stimulated pupils' concentration and positive responses, and enhanced teachers' explanations and demonstrations.

Education: Internet

Baroness Greenfield: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What assessment they have made of the results of the United Kingdom Children Go Online survey by Professor Sonia Livingstone of the London School of Economics; and whether they have plans to improve lessons on the use of the internet, searching the internet and how to judge the reliability of online information.

Lord Adonis: The United Kingdom Children Go Online survey is a valuable contribution to our understanding of children's use of the internet. The internet is an essential tool for learning in all subjects across the national curriculum. The ICT curriculum specifically requires pupils at key stages 3 and 4 to be taught to question the plausibility of information and to be discriminating in their use of information sources.
	The Qualifications and Curriculum Authority is consulting on new draft standards for functional ICT skills that include as a key area of activity,
	"Finding, Selecting and Communicating Information"
	Functional skills will be piloted in September 2007 and the final qualification will be ready for full use in September 2009.

Energy: Microgeneration

Lord Hodgson of Astley Abbotts: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they are taking steps to encourage the development of micro-power generation.

Lord Sainsbury of Turville: We are taking steps to encourage the development of microgeneration. For example, we have:
	provided £41 million of support for solar power projects and £12.5 million of support for household and community renewables projects through the Clear Skies Initiative;
	committed a further £30 million to fund the Low-Carbon Buildings Capital Grant Programme, which will take over from Clear Skies and the Major PV Demonstration Programme in April;
	ensured that most microgeneration technologies benefit from a 5 per cent VAT level; and
	amended the Renewables Obligation Order to make it easier for smaller generators to claim renewable obligation certificates.
	We are also supporting the Climate Change and Sustainable Energy Bill, which contains several measures to assist the development of microgeneration.
	Future steps we will be taking to encourage the development of microgeneration will be outlined in our strategy for the promotion of microgeneration, which will be published by the beginning of April.

Energy: Microgeneration

Lord Hodgson of Astley Abbotts: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they have held discussions on the removal of the reverse stop as a means of encouraging the growth of micropower generation; and, if so, with whom.

Lord Sainsbury of Turville: There have been no explicit discussions about the removal of the reverse stop on meters as a means of encouraging the growth of micropower generation.
	Ofgem is carrying out a public consultation exercise into innovative metering; this closes on 15 March 2006. It then proposes publishing a further paper in May 2006 setting out the way forward.
	The Government will be publishing a strategy for the promotion of microgeneration, which will look at a wide variety of measures to stimulate the growth of these technologies.

Energy: Price Protection Schemes

Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What advice they are offering to consumers on energy companies' fixed price tariffs, known as price protection schemes, which run for several years.

Lord Sainsbury of Turville: The provision of information to gas and electricity customers, including, where appropriate, information and advice on tariffs, is a statutory function of the Gas and Electricity Consumer Council (Energywatch). The Government do not provide advice on individual tariffs or types of tariff.

Energy: Renewable

Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Sainsbury of Turville on 27 February (WA 11), what they class as "a non-cost value and attribute".

Lord Sainsbury of Turville: Non-cost values and attributes of solar PV (which is the technology the Question originally referred to) could include:
	less disruptive to install compared to some other technologies, such as ground source heat pumps;
	makes a visible statement yet is not too intrusive;
	architectural and decorative merit;
	higher awareness levels of the technology; and
	perception as "high-tech" may make it attractive to certain consumers.

Extraordinary Rendition Flights

Lord Lester of Herne Hill: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Drayson on 27 February (WA 35), whether a Gulfstream aircraft used for the purpose of extraordinary rendition would be treated as a military or state aircraft or as a civil aircraft for the purpose of the arrangements made with the United States.

Lord Drayson: The Government's position on "extraordinary rendition" has been set out by the Foreign Secretary on several occasions. It has been made clear to the US authorities that we expect them to seek permission to render detainees via UK territory and airspace (including overseas territories), and that we will grant permission only if we are satisfied that the rendition would accord with UK law and our international obligations. We are also clear that the US would not render a detainee through UK territory or airspace (including overseas territories) without our permission. In these circumstances, any administrative arrangements surrounding the aircraft itself would not be significant.

National Insurance

Lord Forsyth of Drumlean: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	For the latest year for which figures are available, what assessment they have made of the amount of employee national insurance contributions which are not due on benefits in kind which are subject to employers' national insurance contributions; and
	For the latest year for which figures are available, what assessment they have made of the number of employees who benefit from employee national insurance contributions not being levied on certain benefits in kind which are subject to employers' national insurance contributions.

Lord McKenzie of Luton: For the latest year available, 2003–04, it is estimated that replacing the class 1A national insurance contribution liability on benefits in kind with a class 1 liability paid by employers and employees would raise around £230 million. This estimate excludes any allowances for changes in behaviour.
	For 2003–04, there were some 3.5 million employees with employer provided benefits in kind subject to class 1A national insurance contributions paid by employers only.

NHS: Dentistry

Lord Campbell-Savours: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will indicate in tabular form the difference in terms of remuneration for dentists between the old and new contractual arrangements for National Health Service dentistry.

Lord Warner: It is not meaningful to compare the terms of the current General Dental Service (GDS) remuneration system and the new GDS contracts or Personal Dental Service (PDS) arrangements in tabular form. The current GDS is a complex combination of item-of-service and fixed payments. There are more than 400 fees, ranging from £7.30 for a clinical examination to £307.80 for a single orthodontic appliance. In addition, dentists are paid an amount for each patient registered with them.
	The new GDS and PDS arrangements consist of contracts for a defined level of service between the dentist, a dental partnership or a provider of dental services and the commissioning primary care trust. Dentists will have a guaranteed annual contract sum, based on their National Health Service (NHS) earnings during a recent test period, and paid in 12 monthly instalments. In return, they will be expected to provide an agreed level of service over the course of a year, measured in terms of weighted courses of treatment. This will be at least 5 per cent below current GDS levels.
	A committed NHS dentist currently earns on average around £80,000 per year, after practice expenses are taken into account, and can expect to earn at least this amount in 2006–07, with an uplift to 2006–07 prices.

Public Assets

Lord Gilbert: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether any limit is set to the amounts by which former public servants may benefit from the sale of public assets; and, if so, by what means.

Lord Drayson: Guidance on employee share schemes in public-private partnerships is set out in the HM Treasury document Getting best value from trade sales and strategic partnerships, published in November 2000 and available on the Treasury website at www.hm-treasury.gov.uk./media/CC0/D8/tradesalesandstrategicpartnerships.pdf.

Railways: Strategic Rail Authority

Lord Hanningfield: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	On what date the Strategic Rail Authority will be officially wound up; what will be the size and scale of its continuing liabilities; and where such liabilities will be transferred.

Lord Davies of Oldham: The Government announced on 26 January that the Strategic Rail Authority (SRA) will be formally wound up later this year. The majority of the functions of the SRA have already been, or will shortly be, transferred to its successor bodies. After 31 March this year the sole remaining function of the SRA will be administration of the existing procedure for railway closures until the new guidance procedure for closures and minor network modifications is laid before Parliament. This will require only minimal staffing to remain within the SRA after 31 March. Once new guidance has been laid before the Westminster and Scottish Parliaments, responsibility for their administration will also transfer to the successor bodies of the SRA, at which point the authority will have no further continuing liabilities.

Railways: Train Guards

Lord Berkeley: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many train guards are currently employed by South West Trains.

Lord Davies of Oldham: South West Trains employed 868 train guards at 3 March 2006.

Roads: M11

Lord Hanningfield: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What plans they have to install interactive signs on the M11 to alert drivers to the possibility of long delays and the closure of the motorway.

Lord Davies of Oldham: The Highways Agency intends to develop a scheme to install new variable message signs on both carriageways of the M11 between junctions 6 (M11/M25) and 8 (M11/A120 Stansted) in 2007–08.
	This scheme includes provision for the erection of electronic warning signs on the northbound and southbound entry slip roads at junction 7 (Harlow). For any future incidents affecting the M11, these signs will be used to advise drivers that access to the motorway is temporarily suspended.
	Later this month, the Highways Agency will be installing two new variable message signs on the northbound approach to M11 junction 13 (A428) to alert drivers to any congestion difficulties that may be occurring on the A14 trunk road.
	In addition, the agency is developing plans to deploy mobile variable message signs on the M11 and other motorways and trunk roads to inform drivers and assist in the management of traffic during major incidents.

Royal Navy: Vessels

Lord Hanningfield: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What has been the final destination for each vessel decommissioned from (a) the Royal Navy, and (b) the Royal Fleet Auxiliary since 1990; and, for those vessels scrapped, which firm was responsible and where each vessel was scrapped.

Lord Drayson: The Disposal Services Agency's records over the period are not held centrally and the information could be provided only by the use of disproportionate time and effort.

Royal Travel

Lord Berkeley: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Why the financial memorandum on grant-in-aid for royal travel of May 2002 was not reviewed after no more than three years as anticipated in the memorandum; and when the new memorandum will be published.

Lord Davies of Oldham: Work to review the financial memorandum is under way. However, it has been agreed that finalisation of the review should await Sir Peter Gershon's report, commissioned by the Cabinet Office, into the provision of air travel for the royal family and government Ministers. This will ensure that the revision can take account of any implications for royal travel. A copy of the revised memorandum will be placed in the Library.

Royal Travel

Lord Berkeley: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether in undertaking their review of the financial memorandum on grant-in-aid for royal travel they will consider (a) imposing a maximum budget for royal travel reimbursed by the taxpayer; (b) restricting the use of helicopters for journeys of fewer than 200 miles; (c) restricting the number of members of the royal family allowed to use transport funded by the taxpayer; and (d) laying before Parliament the revised draft memorandum in the form of a statutory instrument, in order to provide for parliamentary scrutiny of such expenditure.

Lord Davies of Oldham: In their review, Her Majesty's Government will consider all relevant issues that might need to be reflected in a revised financial memorandum.
	The purpose of the memorandum is to provide guidance on the use of the grant-in-aid for official royal travel by air and rail. Details of annual allocations are not included in the memorandum; however an annual budget is agreed separately between the department and the royal household. This amounted to £5.9 million in 2005–06. Current forecasts are that expenditure for the year will be £5.6 million delivering, an underspend of about £300,000. The provisional budget for 2006–07 is £6 million.
	There is no current intention to restrict the use of the Queen's helicopter or chartered helicopters. The decision to establish The Queen's Helicopter Flight in 1998 continues to be fully justified. In addition to delivering substantial cost savings compared with the previous 32 Squadron Wessex service, the helicopter has proved to be a highly efficient and cost-effective travel option. It provides the opportunity for members of the royal family to undertake a number of engagements at different locations on the same day.
	The costs of all official journeys by air or rail undertaken by members of the royal family are met by the grant-in-aid. The only current restriction on travel relates to use of the royal train, which is confined to HM the Queen, HRH the Duke of Edinburgh and HRH the Prince of Wales. There is no current intention to impose any further restrictions.
	One of the key aims of the grant-in-aid was to improve accountability and transparency for royal travel. This aim is achieved in a number of ways:
	The household publishes a comprehensive annual report, which is placed in the Library and also published on the official royal website. This provides considerable detail on the operation of the grant.
	Expenditure for the grant-in-aid is approved by Parliament as part of the Department for Transport's Estimates. In 2002, following a National Audit Office report, the Public Accounts Committee conducted a detailed review of royal travel and credited the household in making major savings.
	The grant-in-aid is subject to regular scrutiny by the National Audit Office and annual independent audit.
	Sir Peter Gershon is nearing completion of the report commissioned by the Cabinet Office into the provision of air travel for the royal family and government Ministers.
	Given the above measures, Her Majesty's Government do not consider that there is a need to introduce any additional scrutiny.

Schools: Collective Worship

Lord Avebury: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether school pupils aged 16 and over may opt out of collective worship without the permission of their parents.

Lord Adonis: The current policy regarding collective worship is set out in the Department for Education and Skills Circular 1/94. All registered pupils attending a maintained school should take part in a daily act of collective worship, unless they have been withdrawn by their parents.

Schools: Truancy

Baroness Walmsley: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How much they have spent on combating truancy since 1997.

Lord Adonis: Truancy is one of several reasons why a child may be absent from school without authorisation. My department has spent the following on measures aimed solely at reducing absence from schools:
	£11.25 million to help 530 secondary schools that had higher than average rates of unauthorised absence to purchase electronic registration systems;
	£0.8 million on advisers working within the national strategies to provide support to local authorities on their attendance strategies;
	£0.3 million on eight advisers seconded from local authorities to the department to work with 60 local authorities with high levels of unauthorised absence; and
	£0.2 million on events for local authorities to share effective practice on attendance management.
	In addition to these specific measures, my department has funded other initiatives, such as the behaviour improvement programme, that have had the reduction of absence and truancy as part of their overall objectives.

Schools: Trusts and Academies

Baroness Walmsley: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	With which organisations the Department for Education and Skills has been in communication regarding sponsorship of the proposed trust schools and academies.

Lord Adonis: The department has discussed trust schools with a wide range of organisations. We do not hold a comprehensive list of every organisation that has expressed interest or asked for information about forming a trust to support a school. I have placed in the Library a list of a number of those organisations with which we have discussed trust schools since the publication of the White Paper.
	We are also engaged in early discussions with a number of other organisations. We will release information about them once they have agreed to be involved in a pathfinder (except in cases where release might prejudice discussions with stakeholders in the project) or if they have agreed to be publicly named as working with the Government to develop the trust school model.
	In addition, the department has discussed academy sponsorship with in excess of 230 individuals and organisations. A large number of these potential sponsors spoke in confidence to the department; and indeed many of these sponsors have not progressed academy sponsorship. As such it is not possible to disclose the names without contacting the organisations concerned to discuss this. This could be achieved only at disproportionate cost. However, I have placed a list of those organisations that have completed a formal expression of interest and have entered the feasibility stage in the Library.
	(a) Some of the organisations with which we have discussed trust schools
	Representatives of the organisations listed have agreed that we can refer in public to their interest in working with the Government to develop the trust school model; and/or agreed that their thinking around trust schools can be used as a case study; and/or attended one of the recent seminars on trust schools.
	Anglia Ruskin University
	Barnfield College
	Barnsley LA
	Bolton LA
	Brunel University
	BT Group
	Business in the Community
	Catholic Education Service
	CfBT
	Church of England
	Cirencester College
	City of London Creative Partnerships
	EMI
	Exeter University
	George Spencer Foundation
	Girls' Day School Trust
	HSBC Education Trust
	Independent Schools Council
	Kent University
	King's College London
	Knowsley LA
	KPMG
	Lewisham College
	Lincolnshire County Council
	London Borough of Lewisham
	London South Bank University
	Mercers' Company and Thomas Telford School
	Methodist Church
	Microsoft Ltd
	Open University
	Peabody Trust
	Prospects College
	David Samworth
	Serco Group plc
	Sheffield LA
	Solihull Local Authority
	Southend Local Authority
	Specialist Schools and Academies Trust
	United Learning Trust
	University of Kent
	University of Portsmouth
	University of the West of England
	West Nottinghamshire College
	Youth Sport Trust
	4Learning
	(b) Organisations which have completed a formal expression of interest in the academies programme and have entered the feasibility stage
	Absolute Return for Kids (ARK)
	Amey PLC
	Arbib Foundation
	Archdiocese of Southwark
	Bacons CTC Trust
	BeeBee Development
	Brooke Weston CTC Trust
	Corporation of London
	Deacon's Trust
	Diocese of Liverpool
	Dixons CTC Trust
	Emmanuel Schools Foundation
	Garfield Weston Foundation
	Granada Learning
	Greig Trust
	Haberdashers' Livery Company
	Harris Charitable Trust
	HSBC Education Trust
	Jack Petchey Foundation
	John Cabot CTC Trust
	Kent County Council
	King's School Canterbury
	Kingshurst CTC Trust
	Landau Forte CTC Trust
	Leicester Diocesan Board for Education
	Leigh CTC Trust
	Liverpool University
	London Diocesan Board for Schools
	Macmillan CTC Trust
	Manchester Diocese
	Manchester Science Park
	Oasis Trust
	Perkins Engines
	Prospect Education (Technology) Trust Ltd
	Rodney Aldridge Charitable Trust
	Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Liverpool
	Roman Catholic Diocese of Southwark
	Royal Society of Arts
	Steiner School Fellowship
	Tarmac Group Ltd
	Archdiocese of Westminster
	Girls' Day School Trust
	The Mercers' Company
	The Society of Merchant Venturers
	The Sutton Trust
	The University of the West of England
	The Whitgift Foundation
	Thomas Telford Online
	Toc H
	UBS
	United Learning Trust
	West Bromwich Albion FC

Sport: Anti-doping

Lord Pendry: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When they will sign the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation's International Convention Against Doping in Sport; how this will strengthen their current policy on anti-doping in sport; and what was the cost of the UK Sport anti-doping programme in 2004–05.

Lord Davies of Oldham: The Government have shown their full support for the UNESCO International Convention Against Doping in Sport, which resulted in its adoption at the 33rd UNESCO general conference in October 2005.
	Conventions adopted by the UNESCO general conference are not submitted for signature by UNESCO state parties. Instead, UNESCO conventions are authenticated by the signatures of the president of the general conference and the UNESCO director-general.
	Following receipt of the authenticated text of this convention in January, the convention was published as a command paper with its associated explanatory memorandum on 3 February. The convention is currently before Parliament. We hope to have completed the ratification process in the spring.
	The convention will complement the UK's national anti-doping policy by setting it within an international legal framework that clearly sets out our responsibilities in the fight against doping in sport. In particular, the convention will support the activities of the UK's national anti-doping organisation, UK Sport, in helping British sport to become compliant with the World Anti-Doping Code. UK Sport's national anti-doping programme cost £2.5 million in 2004–05.

Sport: TV Income

Lord Pendry: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How they assess the financial investment in grass-roots sport from television contracts signed by the sports governing bodies.

Lord Davies of Oldham: The Government have made no comprehensive assessment of the financial investment in grass-roots sport from television contracts. However, the Central Council of Physical Recreation (CCPR) has established and administers a voluntary code, which is independent of government, relating to broadcasting rights and grass-roots sport.
	The signatories, which include 10 national governing bodies of sport, have undertaken to invest at least 5 per cent of broadcasting income in the development of their sports in order to ensure that the next generation of competitors has the support and facilities necessary to succeed at the highest level.

Tax Credits

Lord Forsyth of Drumlean: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord McKenzie of Luton on 9 February (WA 122), for the latest year for which figures are available, how many single parents benefit from being able to exclude Child Support Agency income from income used for tax credit purposes.

Lord McKenzie of Luton: The information requested is not available.

Taxation: HMRC Questionnaire

Baroness Noakes: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	To which organisations HM Revenue and Customs has sent the questionnaire entitled "Partnership Enhancement Programme—Tax on the Boardroom Agenda"; and
	Whether they will summarise the responses received by HM Revenue and Customs to the questionnaire entitled "Partnership Enhancement Programme—Tax on the Boardroom Agenda"; and
	How many organisations to which HM Revenue and Customs sent the questionnaire entitled "Partnership Enhancement Programme—Tax on the Boardroom Agenda" declined to reply; and
	How many organisations responded to Question 10 of HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) questionnaire entitled "Partnership Enhancement Programme—Tax on the Boardroom Agenda", concerning the release of certain internal information to HMRC, in terms other than that HMRC requests to see such information would be resisted.

Lord McKenzie of Luton: The Partnership Enhancement Programme is a HMRC initiative that brings together executives from the private and public large business sector to operate as independent research groups on strategic projects.
	The survey was sent to the chairmen of more than 500 UK FTSE listed large corporates and to associated business representative bodies. The response rate was 31 per cent.
	The anonymous responses are being collated and will be made available in due course. The summary report will contain a statistical analysis of the responses to Question 10.

Taxation: Anti-avoidance Legislation

Lord Forsyth of Drumlean: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord McKenzie of Luton on 15 February (WA 182), whether they will place in the Library of the House copies of the responses received during the consultations held in 1998 and 1999 on a general anti-avoidance rule and any papers supporting the decision made at that time not to introduce such a rule; and
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord McKenzie of Luton on 15 February (WA 182), whether they will place in the Library of the House any internal documents prepared in connection with the introduction or operation of a general anti-avoidance rule either in support of the 2004 Budget Statement made by the Chancellor or since that time.

Lord McKenzie of Luton: The 1998 and 1999 consultation documents, the responses (excluding those where confidentiality was requested) and HM Customs and Excise's summary of the responses on VAT have been deposited in the Library. The Inland Revenue did not issue a summary document.
	Releasing internal documents relating to the introduction or operation of a general anti-avoidance rule would be inappropriate. Doing so would harm the frankness and candour of internal discussion and also prejudice the collection of tax.
	The Government continue to keep under review a range of options to encourage compliance and deter non-compliance, ensuring fairness of the tax system.

Transport: HGV Drivers

Lord Hodgson of Astley Abbotts: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will introduce regular retesting of heavy goods vehicles licence holders to enable the early identification of sleep apnoea.

Lord Davies of Oldham: The Department for Transport has no plans to introduce more testing of heavy goods vehicles licence holders to enable the early identification of sleep apnoea, as it believes that current procedures are sufficient.

Transport: Lorry Drivers' Hours

Lord Bradshaw: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Davies of Oldham on 14 December (WA 163), whether any reply has been received from the Minister for Transport in the Irish Republic about breaches of the drivers' hours regulations in Wales by Irish lorry drivers; and whether any action has been taken; and
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Davies of Oldham on 14 December (WA 163), what is the latest position in respect of disregard of the drivers' hours regulations by foreign drivers in north Wales.

Lord Davies of Oldham: Colleagues in the Department for Transport are in touch with their counterparts in the Irish ministry in Dublin. I understand that the Irish Minister for Transport is looking to take further action to address the problem, and we are seeking further information on what form that might take.

Universities: Student Finance

Baroness Greenfield: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What support they offer to non-governmental organisations such as UNIAID that offer practical help to students in understanding and overcoming the financial challenge presented by higher education.

Lord Adonis: The Aimhigher programme, part funded by my department and part funded by the Higher Education Funding Council for England, aims to raise the attainment levels of young people and their aspirations towards higher education. UNIAID has recently made a successful application at a national level for Aimhigher funding for a collaborative project which will develop teaching materials based around UNIAID's online student finance programmes. Additionally, local Aimhigher partnerships may be providing funds to other organisations using their own allocations of Aimhigher funds, but details are not held centrally.
	This financial year the department has supported the Educational Grants Advisory Service (EGAS) with a grant of £65,000. EGAS offers students, especially disadvantaged students, expert guidance and advice to enable them to secure funding for education and training.

Water Supply: Reservoirs

Lord Campbell-Savours: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will place in the Library of the House the names and locations of every reservoir within the United Kingdom.

Lord Bach: Details, including name and location, of reservoirs subject to the Reservoirs Act 1975 are contained in the public registers maintained by the relevant authorities with responsibility for enforcing the provisions of the Act. In England and Wales the Environment Agency is the enforcement authority holding the data for each area in its 26 area offices. The 1975 Act does not extend to Northern Ireland. Reservoirs subject to the Act are those which hold, or are capable of holding, more than 25,000 cubic metres of water above the natural level of adjoining land. It would not be in the interests of national security to provide this information collectively in a publicly available source.
	I am not aware of any arrangements in place for the collection of data on reservoirs which are not subject to the 1975 Act.

Water Supply: Reservoirs

Lord Campbell-Savours: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	For which reservoirs within the United Kingdom the management of water levels takes into account flood risk over property not in the ownership of water companies.

Lord Bach: Reservoirs subject to the Reservoirs Act 1975, regardless of ownership, are categorised according to the likely consequences of failure caused by floods or dam breach and are designed to enable a flood safely to pass through without damage to the dam and to minimise the impact downstream.